Some people would rather go all day without their glasses. This is one of the reasons why they decide to go for LASIK eye surgery. They would rather have the surgery than continue with the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses. Regular people are not the only ones that can enjoy the benefit of LASIK eye surgery – athletes can also benefit from this surgery. Find out more on how athletes benefit from LASIK surgery when you contact us at Optimal Vision.
You can imagine the struggle of having to sink a free throw when your contact is slipping or falling out or the struggle to fix your goggles when they are fogged. These and more are some of the problems that athletes face during their active sports activities. For this reason, active people or athletes are mostly suitable candidates for LASIK surgery to perform their best. It is prevalent for people to want to play sports or engage in active activities without worrying about vision or eyesight.
With the help of LASIK eye surgery, a laser is used to create a flap in the cornea. The flap is then lifted, and the tissue underneath is reshaped to correct the patient’s vision. The mechanics of the procedure is the same for everyone,and that includes athletes and non-sporting individuals.
Before the procedure, however, the patient will have to converse with their provider about the procedure; they will also discuss any possible risks andconcerns that the patient may have. For athletes, visual tasks are essentialand require a huge decision. This is why the surgery is often performed on a range of individuals.
What every athlete should know about LASIK
Irrespective of the fact that LASIK is an excellent option for correcting vision, there are still some basic facts every athlete should know about the procedure before they go ahead with it. These facts include the following;
1. LASIK may not be the best option after all
While LASIK is highly rated, it may not be the best option for vision correction for an athlete after all. This is because athletes and people who live an active lifestyle can still be affected years after the surgery. The flap created during a LASIK eye surgery procedure can still be disrupted years after the surgery if there isa significant force application.
For people who lead active lifestyles and play sports, it is very probable and likely that such accidents can happen in the future. When such injury occurs, it should be reported immediately to the doctor or surgeon. For this reason, athletes that participate in high contact sports like basketball may have to consider a different type of eye surgery for vision correction. Photorefractive keratectomy( PRK) may be a more suitable option because it reshapes the cornea directly without creating a flap.
2. Side effects are very much likely to occur
One of the most common side effects of refractive surgery is dry eye, including LASIK eye surgery. This side effect can last for several months; however, it can be treated, and the discomfort can be eased with artificial tears. Of all the LASIK cases, fewer than 5 percent have had to require a second visit for an enhancement or a touch-up. Besides the dry eye, there are other unwanted side effects that may arise after a LASIK procedure. These side effects are rare, but they include halo or induced glare.
3. Extreme change is not the goal
You should know that LASIK eye surgery is designed to correct a person’s vision to the point of their existing prescription. LASIK surgery is not to provide a different sight or augment an existing one. This means that you should not hope to achieve a super-vision afterwards. This is one of the reasons why the patient is expected to converse with the surgeon before the surgery.
The point of the conversation is for the doctor to deliver realistic options to the patient and let them know what to expect. In the end, most of the recipients are pleased with the results and satisfied with the fact that they can play sports and live their active lifestyle with a clear vision and no need for glasses or contact lenses.
4. It can boost or improve performance
Without worrying about dirt or sweat getting into the contact lenses, an athlete’s game can hardly be affected. Not having to worry about being careful so the glasses do not collide with a ball or an elbow will make an athlete entirely focused on the game. Furthermore, a moving contact lens can affect your vision, just like your vision being distorted when you look out the edges of your glasses. Without any of these to worry about, the athlete will play comfortably.
5. Time for recovery may vary
Typically, it takes some time for the flap to secure itself down after the LASIK procedure. However, the time for recovery is different for everyone. Some heal faster than others, and for some people who engage or participate in some sports activities, they can go back to business in a shorter time. People who participate in low-contact pursuits like cycling, swimming or baseball do not need to wait long to recover, unlike people who have received PRK or people who engage in high-contact pursuits. For PRK recipients, it takes at least a week for them to improve, and it takes several weeks for them to regain clear vision. For such people, they would have to wait until they are fully recovered before they can go back to their normal activities. LASIK eye surgery is one of the best ways to correct vision problems. Visit this website for more information.